both parties to try and hammer out a deal avoiding the tax hikes and crippling spending cuts. remember analysts say falling off the fiscal cliff could drive the u.s. into another recession. more than a month has passed since the last time they got together. the obama administration called that mid another meeting constructive but there has been little to no progress. today lawmakers on both sides of the aisle tried to strike an optimistic tone. >> millions of americans are out there struggling and certainly they deserve a congress that will avoid going over the fiscal cliff, which is why the president has been working hard to bring leaders together. >> we can't continue to kick the can down the road with half measures. i think the market will respond in a permanent and negative way to our inaction. >> the chairman of the senate finance committee says it comes down to this meeting adding i wish them luck. it would be a great new year's present for the country. ed henry, how pivot the is the meeting? >> we're on the verge of the biggest tax increase since world war ii. that's ho